the fiscal cliff is a creation of the republican party. had it not been for a republican party that was unwilling to grant this president an extension on the debt ceiling -- >> which every other president has been able to get in a bi-partisan fashion. >> absolutely. then we wouldn't be here right now. we would not be on the edge of the cliff. it's a precarious thing to negotiate around when you consider we might get thrown into a recession if we do go over it. but the more i watch the right, it the more it looks like something is going to have to budge over there. you look at the pugh poll that came out yesterday. 53% of americans would blame republicans if we go over the cliff. only 26% would blame president obama. >> yeah. >> what do we knew about polling? that there are 20% of americans that will always side with republicans. george bush left office with a 20% hard-core approval rating. the iraq war seven years in had a 20% approval rating. so obviously it's that 20% that's blaming the president. >> exactly. carl fritsche here with us a